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As I write this the Democratic Senators are staging a sit in to bring about a filibuster in the seat of government in the United States while they demand a vote on the gun laws. It is a situation that has created a storm because right now a terrorist or suspected terrorist who cannot fly for that reason can still legally buy guns and carry out mass shootings. The recent slaughter of 49 people in the Orlando nightclub massacre has finally brought this issue to a head.

In Australia the last and worst massacre happened 20 years ago with the death of 35 people at Port Arthur, in Hobart. The Prime Minister acted instantly to ban semi-automatic weapons and to change the gun-laws. He recalled parliament to pass a law that only those with a need to own a gun or who are members of a registered gun club can legally own guns of any type while it is illegal for others to have one in their possession.

He organised a huge buy-back and weapons were handed and destroyed while people were compensated. This has prevented anything of the nature of a mass murder taking place. There was no hesitation as this country has not had the love of weapons that the American appear to enjoy.

While the residents of the United States appear to support the Second Amendment it is surely outdated as the situation has changed remarkably from the days of the pioneers and Indian uprisings. The number of people killed by guns in the United States is appalling and the rest of the world wonders at the refusal of some in power to allow legislation such as the Democrats are demanding by their action.